Weekend Cooking: Spicy Chicken & Rice Soup

The wonderful Beth Fish Reads hosts a fantastic weekend meme that helps you get ready for your upcoming week ~ Weekend Cooking! It is all about sharing recipes, cookbook reviews and anything remotely food related.  For more info or to participate, jump on over to Beth Fish Reads.

The Spicy Chicken & Rice Soup is the best for colds, sore throats, stuffy noses and general just-don't-feel-great-all-overness. There are 2 secret ingredients, creole seasoning and lots of love.

It is also probably one of the easiest recipes so if you're feeling icky or need a quick, home-cooked, healthy meal, this is perfect.

Spicy Chicken & Rice Soup

Ingredients:

• 32 oz. chicken broth (I use Swanson Organic - has no MSG, no hormones, 99% fat-free & tastes pretty....I sound like a commercial don't I!)
• 2 cups of water
• 4 carrots, cut diagonally into 1/2 inch slices
• 3 celery stalks, halved lengthwise, and cut into 1/2 inch slices
• 1 tablespoon of creole seasoning (add more if really congested, but be forewarned, the seasoning catches up with you)
• 2 cups minute rice
• 2 cups of cooked chicken, cut in bite-size pieces (I typically buy a rotisserie chicken that is already prepared which makes this recipe ready in about 30 - 45 minutes)

Directions:

1. In a stock pot add chicken broth and water on high heat.
2. Add carrots & celery to broth.
3. Add creole seasoning.
4. Once broth is boiling reduce to simmer.
5. Simmer for approximately 15 - 20 minutes until carrots have softened.
6. Remove from heat - add rice - and cover for 5 minutes.
7. Remove cover and add lots of love.
8. Enjoy.

Daughter No. 2 is now vegetarian and she has a vegan friend who hangs out at the house quite a bit. I can easily prepare this soup for the whole family without altering too much - I simply use vegetable stock in one pot and do not add the chicken. Everything else is the same. It also works great with brown rice - I like it, although my first daughter does not - says it tastes different. I think she just made it different.

Let me know if you try this when a family member has a cold and if it helps! It's our first line of defense around here!

Happy Saturday!